Skip to content

Today in History – April 5, 1962 – 1962 Neil Armstrong takes X-15 to 54,600m

Neil Armstrong and the X-15 by Bob van der Linden, Posted on Tue, July 23, 2019, Aeronautics Department, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum “Released from duty in mid-1952, Armstrong returned to Purdue where he earned his degree in aeronautical engineering in 1955. His love of flight and engineering drew him to the National Advisory

Read More »
Join The SSS
Update My Bio
Main Menu
  • Home
  • History
    • About The SSS
    • Headed West
    • Biographies
    • Today in F-100 History
    • SSS Caterpillar
    • Wall of Honor
    • F-100 Information
    • Friends of the Super Sabre
    • N. American F-100 Super Sabre
  • Galleries
  • The Intake
    • About The Intake: Journal
    • The Intake: Journal of the Super Sabre Society – Archives
  • What’s New
  • Contact

Farnsworth, Glenn L.

  • Home
  • Biography
  • Biographies
  • Farnsworth, Glenn L.

Glenn L. Farnsworth

Preferred Name: Glenn
Nickname/Call Sign: Cascade (after the Pacific Northwest Mts)
Date of Birth: January 16, 1930
Highest Military Grade: 0-4 – Major
Hometown: South Parkersburg, WV
Headed West Date: October 30, 2020
Biography
Pilot Information
Headed West
Album

Major Glenn Farnsworth grew up in Parkersburg, West Virginia.  He was drafted into the Army in 1951 during the Korean War and fought in the 45th Infantry Division at Chorwon Valley where he defended T-Bone Hill for over 36 hours.  After being honorably discharged in 1953, he then was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program in 1956. His first assignment was to the 492nd TFS, Chaumont, France flying the F-100D/F.

He had subsequent assignments to RAF Lakenheath, England, George AFB, CA, and Homestead AFB, FL. In 1963, he volunteered for the F-100 Wild Weasel program and afterward, was assigned to Korat, Thailand where he flew 56 SEAD combat missions over North Vietnam.  He was awarded the Silver Star for a mission he flew on April 17, 1966. He returned to Homestead AFB, FL, and then was assigned to Luke AFB as an instructor pilot.

He had a second tour in Vietnam, where he was assigned to 531st TFS, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam where he flew over 60 combat missions in the F-100 D/F Ramrods. His other assignments included Shaw AFB, SC, Dobbins AFB, GA, and RAF Lakenheath, England.

He is a command pilot with over 4000 hours in fighter and attack aircraft. Decorations include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 oak leaf clusters, Korean Service Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge. He retired from the USAF in 1977.

He was married to the former Beverly Jayne King and they lived in Acworth, Georgia.

Units Assigned

  • 4/1951-10/1951 Infantry Training, Camp Roberts, CA
  • 11/1951-12/1951 1st Cavalry Division, Korea
  • 12/1951-8/1952 45th Infantry Division OK National Guard; Infantry combat in Chorwon ValleyDefended T-Bone Hill for over 36 hours
  • 8/1952-4/1953 Fort Lewis, WA, Honorable Discharge
  • 7/1956-9/1956 Preflight training, Lackland AFB, TX
  • 10/1956-1957 Flight training, Spence AB, GA (T-34, T-28)
  • 11/1957-7/1958 Single Engine Jet training, Brian AFB, TX (T-33)
  • 1958-1959 Fighter Training, Luke AFB, AZ (F-84F)
    Advanced Fighter Training, Nellis AFB, NV (F-100A)
  • 10/1959-12/1960 Fighter pilot, 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron/48th Tactical Fighter Wing (Statue de la Liberte Wing), 492 TFS, Chaumont, France (F-100D/F)
  • 12/1960-1/1963 Fighter pilot, 492nd Tactical Fighter Squadron/48th Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath AFB, England (F-100 D/F)3 years of Victor Alert
  • 1/1963-3/1963 Fighter pilot, 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron/31st Tactical Fighter Wing, George AFB, CA (F-100 D/F)31st Tactical Fighter Wing transferred to Homestead AFB, FL due to Cuban Missile Crisis
  • 3/1963-4/1965 Fighter pilot, 3o9th Tactical Fighter Squadron/31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead AFB, FLVolunteered for Wild Weasel program
  • 4/1965-5/1965 Wild Weasel simulator training, UCLA, CA
  • 5/1966-9/1966 Wild Weasel training, Eglin AFB, FL, (F-100 F)
  • 10/1966-6/1966 Fighter pilot, Wild Weasel detachment, Korat, Thailand, (F-100F)Ferried 2 F-100’s F from Florida to California to Hawaii to Guam to Korat14-hour leg in the cockpit from Hawaii to Guam…longest for me
    Flew 53 combat Wild Weasel missions over North Vietnam
    Awarded Silver Star for leading mission on April 17, 1966
  • 7/1966-late 1966, fighter pilot, 31 Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead AFB, FL (F-100F)
  • Late 1966-8/1969 Instructor pilot, Luke AFB, AZ (F-100 D/F)
  • 9/1969-7/1970 Fighter pilot, 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron/3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, (F-100 D/F Ramrods)60+ combat missions in South Vietnam (Delta)
  • 8/1970-1973 Fighter pilot, Direct Air Support Group, Shaw AFB, SC (O-2)
  • 1973-1974 Instructor pilot, Georgia ANG, Dobbins AFB, GA (T-33)
  • 1974-1977 Chief of Safety, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, England
  • 1977 Retired USAF

Awards & Decorations

Silver Star
1966 Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
1966 Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
1966 Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Republic Of Korea Korean War Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Award (AFLSA)
Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
United Nations Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
Combat Infantry Badge
Combat Infantry Badge

Flight Info

T-34
T-28
T-33
F-84F
F-100 A/D/F
O-2

Rating: Combat pilot
Flight Hours: 4000+

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1963 Squadron Officer School

Civilian Education:

  • Washington State University
  • Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Glenn Lewis Farnsworth (Major USAF, Ret) “Headed West” on October 30, 2020.

After 90 years of a life well-lived, Glenn Farnsworth slipped away peacefully on October 30, 2020, at his home in Acworth, Georgia surrounded by his family, where he was a resident for over 40 years. Glenn served over 26 years in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. He served three combat tours including in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and then later as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot with over 116 combat missions in Vietnam. Glenn was a command pilot with over 4000 flying hours in a variety of fighter aircraft. He was a highly decorated Fighter Pilot and the recipient of the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and numerous air medals.

He was born on January 16, 1930, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and lived there until high school. The family moved to Pullman, Washington where he graduated from high school. He is an alumnus of Washington State University and Emory Riddle University.

He was drafted into the Army in 1951 during the Korean War and fought in the 45th Infantry Division at Chorwon Valley where he defended T-Bone Hill for over 36 hours.  After being honorably discharged in 1953, he then was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program in 1956 and began his pilot training receiving his regular commission a year later. His first assignment was to the 492nd TFS, Chaumont, France flying the F-100D/F.   He had subsequent assignments to RAF Lakenheath, England, George AFB, CA, and Homestead AFB, FL., during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1963, he volunteered to be one of the first pilots for the F-100 Wild Weasel program and afterward, was assigned to Korat, Thailand where he deliberately drew anti-aircraft fire to identify and destroy North Vietnamese defenses.

For one such mission on 17 April 1966, he was awarded the Silver Star, when he led a 4-ship of aircraft to destroy a surface-to-air-missile (SAM) threat, SA-2 site, successfully with no loss of life or aircraft. He returned to Homestead AFB, FL, and then was assigned to Luke AFB as an instructor pilot. He had a second tour in Vietnam, where he was assigned to 531st TFS, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam where he flew over 60 combat missions in the F-100 D/F Ramrods. His other assignments included Shaw AFB, SC, Dobbins AFB, GA, and a second tour at RAF Lakenheath, England, where he was assigned as Wing Chief of Safety.

Glenn was a member of Super Sabre Society, Society of Wild Weasels, and Sons of the American Revolution, Captain John Collins Chapter.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Opal Iris Young, father, Walton Darrell Farnsworth, brother, Paul Eugene Farnsworth, and son, Gary Lewis Farnsworth. Maj Glenn Farnsworth is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, Dr. Beverly Jayne Farnsworth of Acworth, Georgia; his daughter, Colonel (USAF, Retired) Gay Marie McGillis, and son-in-law Maj (USMC, Retired) David Bernard McGillis of Vista, California; his sister, Carol McCracken of Denver, Colorado, his grandsons, Jacob Matthew Hanson of Santa Barbara, California; Senior Airman Christopher Lee Hanson (Hailey), of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Jesus Acuña (Taideris) and great-grandson Ian Lewis Acuña of Anchorage, Alaska; granddaughter, Heather Nicole McGillis of Los Angeles, California; and niece, Tiffany Nash and husband Brad Nash and their children Brett and Clara Nash of White, Georgia, niece Renee Harlow and her son Finn of Seattle, Washington, nephew Dean McCracken and wife Terrah McCracken and their son, Kade McCracken of Castle Rock, Colorado, and nephew Scott McCracken and wife Heather and their children Trynna McCracken, Neil Thomasson, Caitlin McCracken, Jack Thomasson, Griffin Thomasson, Abigail Thomasson, & Tabitha McCracken of Post Falls, Idaho, and many dear friends.

Glenn will be buried with full military honors at a graveside service at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C. in the future. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to WellStar Foundation

https://www.wellstar.org/foundation/pages/give-to-hospice.aspx or American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate.html.

Glenn Farnsworth From Obit
Album Slideshow
Slideshow
Click To View

Wall of Honor Location

Our Mission

The mission of the Super Sabre Society is to preserve the history of the F-100 Super Sabre and the men who flew the aircraft.

Follow Us

Copyright © 2025 Super Sabre Society
Website by: Heart and Soul Web Design
Scroll to Top